Morning sunlight filtered through the cracks of the apartment window as Kael stepped out of his room, a large bag slung over his shoulder. He tapped his smartphone impatiently.
"When are you coming?" he asked, his voice tinged with annoyance.
On the other end, Kaito's voice carried a lazy confidence. "I'm on my way… just a little late," he said before ending the call.
Kael sighed, staring down at the screen. "This guy… always late," he muttered to himself.
Suddenly, a commotion erupted on the street. A thief darted toward a woman, yanking her bag and sprinting into the road.
"Thief!" the woman screamed, frozen in shock.
Kael's eyes narrowed. "Tokyo is full of them," he muttered, his tone calm but sharp. In an instant, he vanished, reappearing above the fleeing thief. With a precise landing, he slammed the man to the pavement.
The thief struggled under Kael's weight, panic etched across his face. "Where… where did you come from?" he stammered, trying to claw his way free.
The woman rushed forward, snatching her purse back. "Thank you… thank you so much!" she said, bowing with genuine relief before disappearing into the crowd.
A sleek black car rolled to a stop nearby. Kaito popped his head out the window, scanning the scene. "I'm here," he called nonchalantly, eyes flicking over the defeated thief.
Kael allowed a small smile. "Finally… company," he said, rising to his feet. The thief scrambled to his feet and bolted, muttering something about Tokyo being "full of thieves."
Kael shook his head and muttered to himself. "Indeed…"
Inside the car, Kaito tossed his oversized bag onto the back seat. "Nothing like a picnic after a near-death encounter," he said, eyes following girls passing by.
Kael shot him a deadpan look, then surveyed the mountain of bags stacked beside him. "What is all this? We're only going for one night," he asked, incredulous.
Kaito puffed his chest out. "A rich kid and a celebrity like me must always be prepared. Food, clothes, emergency supplies… every threat imaginable," he said proudly.
Kael only shook his head, glancing out the window at Tokyo's sprawling cityscape. "Expected," he muttered quietly.
After a short drive, the car rolled to a stop in front of a massive farmhouse surrounded by lush farmland.
"This is where we're having a picnic?" Kael asked, stepping out cautiously.
Kaito grinned and began hauling the bags with ease. "Only the finest for a rich picnic. No weather issues, no hygiene problems. Comfort is everything."
Kael regarded him with faint respect. "You really take your health seriously," he said with a small smile.
Kaito's gaze suddenly landed on a dog bowl near the porch. "Chocolate cookies?" he asked, licking his lips.
Kael gave him a sharp look. "For the dog, not for you," he said with a sigh.
A middle-aged man approached, dressed casually but with an air of respect. "Hello, Lord Kaito," he greeted, bowing slightly.
Kaito turned, smiling dramatically. "Hello, Seun. Can you take all these bags inside?" he commanded confidently.
Seun's eyes widened at the sight of the luggage. "Of course… I'll call some help. My daughter will assist as well." He raised his hand to summon nearby workers.
Moments later, a beautiful young woman approached, her presence calm and composed. "Hello, Sir," she greeted, bowing slightly.
Kael offered a polite smile. "Hello."
Kaito, never missing a beat, struck an iconic pose. "You are very beautiful," he declared.
Kael just shot him a flat stare and turned to follow the girl into the farmhouse. "What's your name?" he asked gently.
"Fujimori Aiko, Sir," she replied respectfully.
Kael nodded. "And you live here? This farmhouse looks… deserted."
Aiko smiled softly. "We usually live in Osaka, but when Lord Kaito requested a picnic here, we came along," she explained, opening the door and flipping on the lights.
Kael set his bag on the couch and grabbed a water bottle from the fridge. "Will you be staying here with us?" he asked, turning to Aiko with a gentle smile.
"Yes, Sir. My father and I will stay until you return to Tokyo," she said calmly.
Seun returned with workers carrying Kaito's bags. "Place them here," he instructed, gesturing toward the living room floor.
Kaito sank onto the couch, rubbing his stomach. "I'm hungry!"
Kael shot him a deadly glare. "You are utterly useless," he muttered, sliding beside him.
Aiko quickly adjusted the farmhouse's interior. "Lunch has been ordered, Sir," she said respectfully.
By evening, Kael stood outside, scanning the empty fields and surrounding forest. "This place seems very safe," he said quietly.
Aiko walked beside him. "Yes, Sir. There are no monsters here. The area is heavily secured, and hunters often patrol this high-class district," she explained respectfully.
Kael tilted his head, confused. "You mean this forest… this single farmhouse… is a high-class area?"
Aiko nodded. "It's all owned by the Harukawa family," she said plainly.
Kael's eyes widened. "Kaito's family owns this entire forest… and the farmhouse?"
A sudden roar shattered the calm. Birds erupted from the trees, squawking frantically.
"What's happening?" Aiko asked, alarmed.
Kael's eyes narrowed. "A monster… definitely a monster." His sword appeared, ablaze with flickering flames.
Kaito stumbled outside, panic in his voice. "Is there a monster?"
A heavy, earth-shaking step approached. Kaito's eyes widened as he fainted on the spot.
"What happened, Lord Kaito?" Seun asked, rushing forward.
Kael walked toward the monstrous figure. "Manifest," he commanded.
In a flash, Xion appeared beside him, his sword gleaming in the sunlight. "At your command, my Lord," he said with unwavering loyalty.
Kael's gaze burned into the beast. "Kill it," he said, voice cold and arrogant.
By nightfall, Kael sat on the couch, watching the dismembered remains of the monster through the window.
"That's an amazing picnic," Kaito said, shoveling food into his mouth like a ravenous animal.
Kael raised his beer. "Indeed… a great picnic," he said with a deadly stare before taking a long drink.
Aiko sat across from them. "We're lucky you came today… that beast would have destroyed us," she said, bowing respectfully.
Kael smiled faintly. "It's my duty… I am a hunter," he said confidently.
Kaito grinned. "Don't worry, we're here to help," he added energetically.
Aiko gave Kaito a piercing glare before offering Kael a soft, grateful smile.
Seun looked around at the scattered bags. "I suppose I'll have to organize all this tomorrow," he said, bemused.
Kael gestured toward the plate. "You should have some," he said, his tone polite but firm.
Aiko bowed slightly, a soft smile on her face. "Thank you, Sir," she said, before digging in. Within moments, she had devoured everything at an astonishing speed, leaving the plate spotless.
Kael leaned back, sipping his beer, his eyes sweeping over the people around him. The room gradually fell into quiet, the hum of contentment mixing with the fading light of evening. Slowly, fatigue tugged at him. His eyelids grew heavy.
"That… was an unexpectedly intense picnic," he murmured, a low sigh escaping his lips as he drifted toward sleep.
Suddenly, a glow flickered in front of him—a familiar system interface materializing in midair.
[System Notification]
New Skill Acquired: Entity Reconstruction
Kael's eyes narrowed as he rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Entity Reconstruction… this must be… for restoring entities that were injured or killed in battle," he muttered, his voice calm but edged with curiosity.
He leaned back, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Interesting… very interesting indeed."
Morning sunlight spilled over the farmhouse as Kael stepped toward the car, the weight of his bag balanced on his shoulder.
"Let's head back," he said, opening the car door with a calm authority.
Kaito slid into the driver's seat, a broad grin on his face. "What a morning… after such a fantastic picnic!" he exclaimed happily, fingers drumming on the steering wheel.
Kael shot him a cold, deadly stare. "Yes… very interesting," he muttered dryly, sliding into the passenger seat and tossing his bag onto the back.
Aiko approached, bowing deeply. "Have a nice day, Sir," she said, her tone brimming with loyalty and respect.
Seun nodded as well. "Stay safe, Sir," he added before heading to his own car, the morning air filled with the quiet hum of departure.
Kaito slammed his hands on the wheel. "Let's go!" he shouted energetically, flooring the accelerator.
Kael's eyes widened slightly as the car lurched forward. He quickly snapped on his seatbelt, gripping the edge of the seat. "Just… get me there alive," he muttered, a hint of genuine fear threading through his deadpan delivery.
The car shot forward, tires screeching slightly against the asphalt, leaving behind the quiet serenity of the farmhouse and the forest beyond.
In another part of the city, far from the calm of the farmhouse, Hiraki sat inside his office at the Hunter Corporation headquarters. The room was silent except for the faint hum of machines and the distant shuffle of paperwork. Sunlight filtered through the tall glass windows, casting long shadows across the polished floor.
Hiraki's expression was cold and focused, his fingers interlocked as he leaned forward slightly.
"We need records of every unusual movement in the area," he said firmly, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade. "I want every file related to it—no delays, no excuses."
The workers in the room stiffened under his commanding tone.
His secretary adjusted his glasses quickly, nodding with urgency. "Right away, Sir," he replied, already turning toward the system, fingers moving rapidly as he began pulling up files.
Hiraki leaned back in his chair, his gaze sharp and unyielding as he stared at the city skyline beyond the glass.
"We cannot afford to take any risks," he said quietly, but the weight in his voice was far heavier than his earlier command.
The room fell into a tense silence, as if even the air itself understood the gravity of his words.